Reviews by Jeff K

Master Built?

Powerband is the newest addition to the Master Built Series from Camacho. There are two other cigars in that line: Triple Maduro and American Barrel Aged. Triple Maduro has been a crowd pleaser since the blend debuted. And I liked American Barrel Aged enough to review it last year, and give it a 90 point rating. Needless to say, Powerband had some big shoes to fill if it was going to live up to these two.

So what exactly are we dealing with here? Powerband is inspired by biker culture, and like all Camachos the presentation is on point. But I’m not here to collect fancy boxes, I’m here to light up some great cigars. So let’s pop open the hood on this sucker. We’re looking at a Habano 2000 Ecuador wrapper, a Mexican San Andres binder, and filler leaves from Nicaragua, Honduras, and three different regions of the Dominican Republic. That’s right, there’s 5 unique long-fillers at play.

The fine folks at Camacho tell me this one is made with a “proprietary bunching process that maximizes airflow for peak performance.” Honestly, I’m not sure if that actually affects the cigar at all. Don’t get me wrong, the draw and construction are spot-on. But I don’t think you’ll toast the foot of this and then say, “Wow, I really enjoy the thorough airflow allowed by the proprietary bunching process of the filler leaves!”… Unless that’s your thing, in which case, have at it.

Anyway, back to the cigar. There’s a great amount of flavor at play here. I went with the 6” x 50 Toro for this review, and was greeted with earthy notes and a spicy core at the start. As the cigar burnt, it progressed into a sweetness joined the mix that had me reaching for a nice stout to pair up with this handmade. If I have to make a complaint, I’ll echo what I said in my ABA review: the price here isn’t great. It’s worth the money, but probably a bit too rich to be in my humidor all the time. As an occasional treat, the Powerband is well worth the 5-Pack purchase, and I think it fits right in with the other Master Built offerings.

CI hasn’t become the world’s leading cigar retailer by accident. We’re committed to industry-leading prices, exceptional service, the biggest selection, and overwhelming charm. No nonsense, just great cigars delivered fast, fresh, and discounted….beware of imitators.